We are just under four weeks away from the Winter Meetings, which hopefully means we are weeks away from the Major League Baseball off-season hitting its stride. This offseason’s free agent class includes a long list of talented players the Philadelphia Phillies should be interested in improving the roster.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has said over the years that he wants championship pedigree on the Phillies’ roster, and there is a World Series (and Home Run Derby) winner the reigning NL East Champs might be interested in.
Teoscar Hernández
Teoscar Hernández is a right-handed left fielder who is fresh off a one-year “prove it” deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Teoscar proved it in his deal, one that saw him win a World Series and the Home Run Derby.
Hernandez signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2011. He would go on to make his debut in 2016. He was traded from Houston to the Toronto Blue Jays one year later and went on to spend the next five seasons with the club. The last two seasons saw him sign one-year “prove it” deals with the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers.
He hits the ball hard, averaging a 90.6 MPH exit velocity, which is in the 75th percentile according to Baseball Savant. His 14.9 barrel percentage is in the 94th percentile while his 46.8 hard percentage is in the 81st percentile. Suffice it to say, he hits the ball and hits it hard.
Hernández had a very productive 2024 campaign. He finished the season with a .272/.339/.501/.840 slash line to go along with 33 home runs and 99 RBI.
Lineup fit
The insertion of Teoscar Hernández makes this lineup that much deeper. It could end up looking like this, assuming everyone stays:
Kyle Schwarber DH
Trea Turner SS
Bryce Harper 1B
Teoscar Hernández LF
Alec Bohm 3B
Nick Castellanos RF
J.T. Realmuto C
Bryson Stott 2B
Johan Rojas CF
Fans want Kyle Schwarber out of the leadoff spot, but he hits into double plays and hits a lot of leadoff home runs that get the team going. Hernández hit only seven double plays in 2024 and didn’t hit first to start a game.
Should the Phillies sign him?
Hernández would be an interesting addition to the Phillies, and fans shouldn’t be opposed to acquiring him. The 2024 Home Run Derby Champ’s 33 home runs this season and 99 RBI ranked second on the Dodgers, behind only Shohei Ohtani (who hit 54 and 130). He finished tied for 11th in Major League Baseball and 6th in the National League.
The only concern with signing Teoscar Hernández is his strikeout rate. His 28.8% strikeout percentage and 188 strikeouts were the highest on the Dodgers. According to Fangraphs, it was the sixth-highest percentage and fourth-most strikeouts among qualified hitters in Major League Baseball.
Despite the strikeout concern, the Phillies should still take a look at him. It was undeniably the best season of Hernandez’s career. His past performance could be an indication this season was an outlier, but I don’t think it is. Regardless, Teoscar should continue to produce for a contending club.
Can the Phillies sign him?
The Phillies are looking for a corner outfielder again after Austin Hays, for one reason or another, has not worked out. While Teoscar Hernández fits what the Phillies are looking for, I don’t see any world where he is wearing powder blue every Thursday home game. I believe he is going to get a payday significantly larger than what the Phillies are willing to do, especially if they want to keep Brandon Marsh.
Teoscar Hernández would certainly be a beneficial addition to the Phillies, and I am sure they are doing their research on him. The strikeouts are a big concern, especially because strikeouts are the biggest contributor to the Phillies’ past two exits from the postseason, but inserting him into this lineup will get you to over 100 wins in a season and another deep postseason run.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
